God Within Us

Walen MickeyColorado Springs Camp Meeting

06 July 2010

What is spirit?Literal meaning

Spirit in scripture is translated mostly from two words: Hebrew רוח ruwach (Strong’s 07307): breath Greek πνευμα pneuma (Strong’s 4151): breath

English spirit From Latin spiritus: breath

English ghost From Old English gāst: breath

Figurative meaningAll these words have senses which mean something

like animating force

Who is the Holy Spirit?He is the breath of GodHe is the animating force of GodHe is one of the three persons of God

Distinct Ascribed numerous traits of personality, including

several names unique to himYet perfectly united with Father and Son

I John 5: 7: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. Note that the Word is one of the names of Jesus

(John 1: 1–14)

Where does he live?In you

Else you are none of his Rom. 8: 9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the

Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

He is God within usThis sounds fine but perhaps too abstract to

easily understandWhy do I want him—need him—within?What does he do?

What does he do?Animates (gives life) Rom 8: 9–11Inspires II Pet. 1: 21Comforts John 15: 26Helps Rom. 8: 26Provides access to God Eph 2: 18Intercedes (advocates) Rom. 8: 26Justifies (vindicates) I Tim. 3: 16Knows God (searches, reveals) I Cor. 2: 10–11Teaches (reminds, speaks, shows) John 14: 26Witnesses Acts 5: 32

What does he do? (cont’d)Reproves (judges, convicts) John

16: 8Commands (forbids) Acts 15: 28–

29Leads Rom. 8: 14Guides John 16: 13Baptizes I Cor. 12: 13Sanctifies I Pet. 1: 2Gives spiritual gifts (apportions)I Cor. 12: 11Profits men I Cor. 12: 7Works I Cor. 12: 11

How does he work?The word of God is his sword

Eph. 6: 17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The human conscience appears to be his toolRom. 9: 1: I say the truth in Christ, I lie not,

my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

Rom. 2: 15: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Does he dwell in all men equally?Three apparent categorical degrees

Omnipresent God in all men Enables men to “feel after” God Acts 17: 24–28 Already in apostles prior to Pentecost John 14: 17

Ordinary indwelling in Christians Given at baptism Acts 2: 38; 5: 32 Provides spiritual fortification II Tim. 1: 14 Fullness provides boldness (esp. of speech) Acts 13: 9–12

Extraordinary outpouring in selected individuals Fullness (overflowing, baptism in) provides miraculous power Given in times of prophecy and revelation, OT and NT

Can I take him for granted?He is dependable and friendly

He is eternal Heb. 9: 14: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who

through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

And compassionate Rom. 8: 26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

We are his temple I Cor. 3: 16–17: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Can I take him for granted? (cont’d)But he can be offended

Defiled I Cor. 3: 17: If any man defile the temple of God,

him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Therefore, flee sexual immorality (I Cor. 6: 15)

Quenched I Thess. 5: 19: Quench not the Spirit.

Compare seared conscience (I Tim. 4: 1–2)Grieved

Eph. 4: 30: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Can I take him for granted? (cont’d)He can be offended (cont’d)

Spited (insulted) Heb. 10: 26–29: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the

knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Blasphemed Mark 3: 29: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath

never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

The Spirit is LIFERom. 8: 9–11: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if

so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.